On the production of N(+) by energetic electrons

Calculations of the ratio of N(+) to total N2 ion production for auroral electrons which give a value of 0.16 compared to the value of 0.22 that has been assumed in a recent publication is presented. The corresponding ratio for photoelectron production is 0.05, which makes photoelectron production of N(+) negligible compared to photodissociative production. The ratio of 3914-A to total ion production is found to be 0.07 for auroral electrons and a similar 0.06 for photoelectrons. The 3371-A ratio to total N2 ion production is 0.09. This calculation also reveals that the secondary electrons in auroras, with energies less than 100 eV, produce only about one third of the total number of ions produced. Only one quarter of the N(+) ions are created by secondary electrons.